A popular song from 1901.
words by Wm. Jerome
music by Jean Schwartz
The sheet music:
Accompaniment track:
Lyrics
1. In the Catskill mountains Rip Van Winkle slept for twenty years
At home he couldn’t get along with his wife it appears
They used to fight, Both day and night
One night she got real angry and turned Rippy from the door
And said he needn’t ever play in her yard anymore
She told him he could take his clothes and go
Chorus
Rip Van Winkle was a lucky man
Rip Van Winkle went away
And slept for twenty happy years
In the mountains so they say, how lucky
Rip Van Winkle had a lovely sleep
Deny it if you can
While his loss they were deploring
He was in the mountains snoring
Rip Van Winkle was a lucky man
2. Now just sit down and figure out, the money that he saved
For twenty years his whiskers grew, his face had not been shaved
His brush it grew, a mile or two
And during all that time his living didn’t cost a cent
His wife at home she had to keep the house and pay the rent
While in the mountains Rip was living high
Chorus
Rip Van Winkle was a lucky man
Rip Van Winkle was a gent
Lived on a bluff for twenty years
Didn’t spend a single cent, how lucky
Rip Van Winkle had a lead-pipe cinch
Deny it no one can
While his wife was spending money
He was in the land of honey
Rip Van Winkle was a lucky man
Sung here by Fred Feild: